Fun, Family, Travel and Photography

We are off to St James’ Palace

My gorgeous daughter Abbey has completed her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, which she has achieved by completing a personal programme of activities in five sections, Physical, Skills, Expedition, a Residential and the final task of volunteering which saw her going to Gambia last November to help re-build a school and she is picking up her award from St James’ Palace in December.

Gambia was an experience she will never forget and despite working hard, she got some downtime too. I nearly had heart failure when she sent me a picture of her with a snake wrapped around her neck and posing with a crocodile, but I am proud to say that she is planning on going back out to volunteer for another week to help get the school finished.

Achieving a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at any level really is a big deal. It takes a lot of effort and dedication and not just from those doing it. I have vivid memories of trawling around the shops to find the perfect walking boots for Abbey – they had to have good ankle supports as well as being the right size and colour. Then there was finding all the equipment she needed which included a tent, waterproofs, sleeping bag, ruck sack etc – it cost us a small fortune but it is worth it and finally she is going to enjoy a proper celebration of her achievements.

The national Gold Award presentations promise to be great day out all round. I will be the one bursting with pride when I see Abbey stepping up to collect her Award and meeting HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or The Earl of Wessex (I am hoping for the Duke personally as he seems an amusing person to chat to and I am secretly hoping he will slip up).

It will also be nice to spend some quality time with my eldest child and we plan to make a weekend of it and go and see the sights too.